Toothbrush



Aug. 11, 1942. s. A.MANTELL 2,292,707

TOOTHBRUSH Filed Sept. 23, 1941 avzaeZA/[aaieZZ Patented Aug. 11, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOTHBRUSH Samuel A. Mantell, Niagara Falls, N. Y.

Application September 23, 1941, Serial No. 412,029

1 Claim.

This invention relates to tooth brushes and it consists in the constructions, arrangements and combinations herein described and claimed.

It is the cardinal object of the invention to provide a novel construction of brush head in which tooth cleaning bristles are arranged in a manner that food particles lodged in the crevices between the teeth are eifectively removed.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a tooth brush in which the bristles are arranged in separate groups, the bristles being extended substantially at right angles to one another, providing a brush which will simultaneously brush the crown portions of the teeth as well as the face and rear portions of the teeth.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a brush having bristles arranged so that the inside portions of the teeth may be readily cleansed without liability of gagging the user.

Additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be apparent from the followin description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a tooth brush constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof,

Figure 3 is a plan view thereof,

Figure 4 is an end illustrating one use of the brush,

Figure 5 is a similar view illustrating a further use of the brush,

Figure 6 is a fragmentary perspective of a modified form of the brush.

There is illustrated a tooth brush, generally indicated by the reference character It], consisting of a handle II and a head portion [2, the latter being extended at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the handle.

The head 12 is suitably shaped and rounded so as to present a smooth surface, avoiding abrasion of the mouth and gums, when in use, and it will be noted that the handle H joins the head intermediate its length.

Medially of the head I! and extended at right angles, from the underside thereof, a depending portion I3 is formed, integral with the head, as clearly shown in Figures 1 and 4. Thus the head l2, as viewed in end elevation, has a substantially I-shaped formation.

The head I2 is provided with suitably shaped bristles l 4, extending from the depending portion I 3 outwardly a suitable distance.

The depending portion I3 is also provided with bristles l5, these bristles being extended in opposite directions and of a length stopping short of respective outer ends of the head l2, all of which is clearly shown in Figure 4.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a tooth brush in which bristles are arranged at right angles to one another and as used in Figure 4, the bristles I5 function to clean the upper or crown portions of the teeth, while the bristles [4 function to clean the outer sides of the teeth, such cleaning being effected simultaneously upon the upper and lower jaws.

By reversing the brush to the position shown in Figure 5 the inside of teeth may be cleaned, the bristles IS in this instance being effective upon the inner sides of the teeth, while the bristles I4 clean the crown portions of the teeth.

Obviously the brush described may be used in cleaning dentures, but in Figure 6, I have shown a form of brush particularly designed for such work. The construction is identical with that first described, but in addition I provide a row of bristles l6 extended around the periphery of the rounded end of the depending portion 13. The bristles [6 permit ready access into corners and crevices of the plates.

While I have shown and specifically described preferred constructions of the brush this is by way of illustration only, and I consider as my own, all such changes and modifications in structure as fairly fall within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A tooth brush comprising a head, a handle at right angles thereto, the head having a medial depending portion between the respective ends, bristles on the head member extending in a plane parallel with the depending portion, and bristles on respective sides of the depending portion extending at right angles to the first named bristles, being of a length stopping short of respective ends of the head, said depending portion being rounded at its extremity and a plurality of bristles being mounted in the periphery thereof.

SAMUEL A. MANTELL. 

